Bulawayo students sidelined on BEAM

Bulawayo province had the least number of students who benefited from the government sponsored Basic Education Assistance Model (BEAM) examination fees in 2015.

Only  222 students benefited of which 102 were boys and 120 girls.

A total of $18 996 was spent in Bulawayo, Parliament was told on Wednesday.

According to Deputy Minister of Labour and Social Welfare, Tapiwa Matangaidze , $987 227 was spent on 10 817 Ordinary and Advanced Level students.

Matangaidze said only $7 million was allocated against 'an ideal budget of $27 million'.

He said Cabinet directed the ministry to use the $7 million "to partly clear school fees arrears' the programme owed schools for 2013 and 2014.

These arrears amounted to $20 103 831 00, he said.

According to  Matangaidze, Bulawayo had 222 beneficiaries', Matabeleland North and South had 487 and 540 respectively.

Midlands and Masvingo had the highest of 1632 each, Mashonaland East (1572), Manicaland (1440), Mashonaland West (1357), Mashonaland Central (1190) and Harare had 851.